U14s vs Maidenhead (League)

On a bright and surprisingly breezy Sunday morning, the breakfast club met for their weekly bacon rolls and the 'Ensian players tried to warm up.

Faced with a Maidenhead team with several tall and powerful looking players, 'Ensians started slowly, playing into the strong wind. The game took the pattern of a midfield, forward battle, with a number of rucks, mauls and scrums leading to turnover ball for both sides. From one of these turnovers on half way, 'Ensians tried to gain some territorial advantage with an excellent kick over the top by TG. However, having chased the ball back, the Maidenhead number 11 collected and then ran around the outside of the 'Ensians team before being hauled down inside the 'Ensians 22. Sustained pressure was then applied to the 'Ensians line before a try saving tackle on their number 8 from Phil, led to an 'Ensians penalty. Unfortunately, the penalty failed to find touch and fast ball through the hands of the Maidenhead backs, freed their 13 to score in the corner. The conversion was missed but Maidenhead were worthy of their early lead - 5 -0.

'Ensians then woke up and started to dominate the forward play, creating good, fast ball for the lively backs. The rugby was of a good standard with even the golfers on the adjacent golf course stopping mid round to watch.
Following another midfield battle between the forwards, 'Ensians popped right, feeding Ryan on the wing who made a good 20m break. The ball then went left with Daniel breaking through the Maidenhead line before popping to Liam to score in the corner. 5-5.

More good ball from the forwards enabled the impressive back line to exert some authority on the game with Daniel, again at the heart of it. This time, having collected the ball 40m out, broke two tackles before racing clear to score. 10 - 5.

Maidenhead then came right back at 'Ensians who needed to defend desperately on their own line before the half time whistle gave them relief.

The second half followed the pattern of the first, with alot of midfield battles and both sets of forwards throwing themselves into the rucks and mauls. Again, quick ball from the 'Ensians forwards saw the ball recycled to Daniel, who fed TG who fed Liam to score under the posts. Converted by TG. 17 - 5.

'Ensians then lost Alex Crocker through a cut to the head and needed to arrange their back line. Far from disrupting them, the sight of blood seemed to invigorate them. Ross, minding his own business at the back of a ruck was thrown the ball and, once he had put his gumshield back in, bounced off three tackles to find himself clear, scoring under the posts. another good conversion by TG. 24 - 5.

Maidenhead were clearly not lying down, however and came straight back at 'Ensians, engineering a 3 on 1 overlap and scoring in the corner. 24 - 10.

Things then got worse for 'Ensians with TG receiving a yellow card for a late tackle. With a man advantage, Maidenhead starting to dominate, forcing 'Ensians back towards their own try line. From a ruck 5m out, they were able to generate quick ball and one of the Maidenhead forwards went over. 24 - 15.

Having then sustained extreme pressure from Maidenhead, 'Ensians were relieved to get TG back on and it was him that punting the ball into touch to finish the game.

Final score 24 - 15. A good, closely contested game with quality being shown by either side.

Awards for 'Ensians :

Forward of the day - Jason
Back of the day - Phil
Man of steel - Alex